Type-writing machine.



J. G. MoLAUGHLIN.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APBLIOATION FILED MAY 8, 1912.

ma ma Patented May 27, 1913.

WITNESSES:

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH CO., WASHINGTON, D. C.

UNTTED %TATES PATENT orrrca JOHN C. IVIoLAUGI-ILIN, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPEWR-ITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION .OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented May 27, 1913.

Application filed May 8, 1912. Serial No. 695,886.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN (J. MGLAUGH- LIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typel i riting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to typewriting machines, and more particularly to means for operating from the space-key the escapement of the carriage feeding device.

In machines, such as the Underwood writing machine the feeding mechanism for the carriage usually embodies an escapementconsisting of a toothed wheel cooperating with a pair of dogs mounted on a rocker. One of these dogs, known as the feed dog, is loosely mounted on the rocker and is normally engaged by a tooth of the escapement wheel and held against a stop provided on the rocker. The other dog, known as the detent dog, is rigidly connected with the rocker and has a beveled face which engages the escapement tooth when the latter is disengaged from the feed dog by a movement of the rocker.

In the usual form of typewriting ma chines, such as above mentioned, the rocker will be so moved or swung whenever a spacekey is depressed. When the key is released, the rocker swings so as to free the escape-- ment tooth from the detent wheel and allow the feed dog to engage the next tooth, the carriage thus being fed forward one space. This movement of the rocker is accelerated by the pressure exerted by the escapement wheel against the beveled face of the detent dog, thus making the escapement very sensitive. However, should the operator not release the space-key promptly, there is liabil ity of one or more additional teeth escaping past the feed dog and the carriage skipping one or more spaces. Moreover, in machines such as above described, the feeding operation has hitherto taken place during the upward movement of the space-key, thus necessitating the release of the space-key before another type-key can be operated. This, of course, tends against speed of operation.

The principal object of the present in vention is to eliminate these difficulties, and to this end simple mechanism is provided which prevents the possibility of the escapement wheel skipping a tooth during the operation of the space-key, and accomplishes this by causing the cycle of operation of the escapement mechanism to be completed during the down stroke of the space-key, and permitting the rocker to return promptly after being actuated to the limit of its movement. This prompt return of the rocker takes place irrespective as to whether or not the space-key is kept depressed or is partially released by the operator. The mechanism provided for this purpose consists essentially of a wheel having thereon a series of teeth or projections adapted to engage a cam projection on the rocker carrying the dogs of the escapement mechanism. The space-key, instead of operating the rocker through the universal bar, as in the ordinary construction of typewriting machines operates this rocker through the wheel and the projection on the rocker above mentioned. lVhen the space-key is depressed, this wheel is rotated through the space of one tooth, and one of these teeth, engaging the projec tion on the rocker, swings the latter, and then abruptly releases the same, permitting the rocker to return promptly to its normal position. Thus the cycle of operation of the escapement mechanism is completed during the down stroke of the space-key and the carriage is fed forward before the space-key is released. If the operator should then fail to release the space-key promptly, or, should he release it partially, it will have no effect on the escapement mechanism, as the latter has completed its cycle of operation and cannot be affected by the movement of the space-key until the latter is en tirely released and depressed again. Moreover, with the mechanism above described, it will be possible for the operator to operate another type-key before he releases the space-key.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a typewriter with the space-key and the improved connection to the escapement mechanism shown in normal position. Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating in the position of parts shown in Fig. 1, the escapement mechanism and the means for operating i from the space-key. Fig. Sis a fragmental view, similar to Fig. 1, illustrating, in an intermediate position, the rocker and the means for operating the same. Fig. 4t is a fragmental detail view illustrating the normal position of the escapement mechanism. Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4, and illustrates the escapement in the position the va rious parts assume when the rocker is swung so as to free the escapement wheel from the feed dog. The arrows indicate the directions in which the rocker and the escapement wheel have moved. The latter is shown engaging the beveled face of the detent dog.

The space-key 1 has extending therefrom, on the other side of its fulcrum, an arm 2 having pivoted thereto adjacent its end a pawl 3 engaging a toothed or ratchet wheel 4, mounted in a bracket 6 fixed to the frame. The teeth 5 of the wheel have inclined or beveled faces 5 adapted to engage the beveled face 10 of a cam projection 10 formed on rocker 9 of the escapement mechanism. Through the camming action of the beveled face of a tooth against the beveled face of the projection, the rocker is swung when the space-key is depressed. Each tooth 5 is provided also with an abrupt face 5 which, after the rocker has been actuated to the limit of its movement, is brought into substantial alinement with an abrupt face 10 provided on projection 10, as shown in Fig. 3. hen a tooth 5 rides past the projection 10 on the rocker, the latter is abruptly released and is free to return to its normal position. A spring detent 7 is fixed to the frame of the machine adjacent to ratchet wheel 5, and is provided with a roller 8 engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel to prevent overrunning of the latter when actuated by the pawl as above described.

The general construction of rocker 9 and the rest of the escap-e-ment mechanism is substantially similar to that employed in the usual type of Underwood writing machine now in use. This rocker has mounted thereon the detent dog 11, having the beveled face 12, and the loose or feed dog 13 which a tooth 15 of the escapement wheel 14L normally engages and holds, in opposition to the tension of spring 17, against a stop 16 formed on the rocker. This spring is fastened to the loose dog at one end and extends obliquely therefrom to apoint on the frame to which it is fastened, and exerts a tension on the rocker tending to swing it into normal position, and at the same time serves to pull the loose dog away from the stop when this dog is swung away from its engaging teeth by the movement of the rocker. The usual universal bar 18 is attached to the rocker and is operated by the type bars 19 through heels 20 formed thereon adjacent their fulcrum 21. The escapement wheel has associated therewith the usual pinion 22 meshing with the feed rack 23 of the carriage 24.

When the space-key is depressed, it raises arm 2 and the pawl carried thereon, this pawl rotating the ratchet wheel the space of one tooth. One of the teeth of this wheel engaging with its beveled face, the beveled face of the projection or the rocker, swings the latter into the position shown in Fi 3, wherein the feed dog has released a tooth on the escapement wheel, which tooth is engaged in turn by the beveled face of the detent dog. Before the space-key reaches the bottom of its down stroke, the tooth of the ratchet wheel rides past the projection on the rocker, and the latter quickly returns to its normal position, allowing the carriage to feed forward one space.

Owing to the substantial alinement of the faces of the ratchet tooth andthe rocker projection at the moment when the tooth rides past the projection, as shown in Fig. 3, the release of the rocker is abrupt, no matter how slowly the space-key is depressed. Thus under no circumstances, does the escapement wheel have sufficient time to skip past the feed dog and it is assured that the tooth engaging the feed dog is the next adjacent tooth to the one previously released. The carriage must, therefore, feed along but one space at a time, and this movement of the 9 carriage takes place before the space-key is released. hen the latter is so released, the pawl rides freely past the tooth which it has advanced and returns in position to engage the succeeding tooth. It will thus be clear that the operator can operate another typekey before releasing-the space-key.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, a carriage,

escapement mechanism therefor including a rocker having a ,projection thereon, a space-key, and a toothed wheel actuated by said space-key and adapted to engage the projection on the rocker. v

2. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, escapement mechanism therefor including a rocker having a projection, a toothed wheel mounted adjacent the rocker and engaging said projection, a space-key, and means for advancing said wheel through said spacekey one tooth at a time.

3. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, escapement mechanism therefor including a rocker having a projection, a toothed wheel mounted adjacent the rocker and engaging said projection, a space-key, and a pawl operatively connected to said space-key and engaging the teeth of said wheel.

4. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, escapement mechanism therefor including a rocker, a toothed wheel mounted adjacent to said rocker and engaging therewith, a space-key having an arm extending therefrom, a pawl mounted on said arm and adapted to actuate said wheel, and a detent engaging said Wheel.

5. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, escapement mechanism therefor including an escapement Wheel, a rocker, a feed dog and detent dog mounted on said rocker, said detent dog having a beveled face adapted to engage a tooth of the escapement wheel, a space-key, and rotary means 0perated by said space-key and engaging said rocker, said means imparting to said rocker its complete cycle of movement during the down stroke of the space-key.

6. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, escapement mechanism therefor including an escapement Wheel, a rocker having 7 a projection thereon, a feed dog and detent dog mounted on said rocker, said detent dog having a beveled face adapted to engage a tooth of the escapement Wheel, a space-key, and a toothed Wheel actuated by said spacekey and adapted to engage the projection on the rocker.

7. In a typevvriting machine, a carriage, escapement mechanism therefor including a rocker having a projection thereon, said projection having a beveled face, a space-key, and a toothed Wheel operated by said spacekey, the teeth of said wheel having inclined faces adapted to engage the beveled face of said projection and to actuate said rocker therethrough.

8. In a typevvriting machine, a carriage, escapement mechanism therefor including a rocker having a projection thereon, said projection having a beveled face and an abrupt face, a space-key, a toothed Wheel advanced one tooth at a time by said spacekey, each tooth of saidv Wheel having an inclined face adapted to engage the beveled face of the projection, and an abrupt face adapted to ride past the abrupt face of the pro ection.

9. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, escapement mechanism therefor including an escapement Wheel, a rocker having a projection thereon, said projection having a beveled face, a feed dog and detent dog mounted on said rocker, said detent dog having a beveled face adapted to engage a tooth of the escapement Wheel, a space-key, and a toothed Wheel operated by said spacekey, the teeth of said Wheel having inclined faces adapted to engage the beveled face of said projection and to actuate said rocker therethrough.

10. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, escapement mechanism therefor including an escapement Wheel, a rocker having a projection thereon, said projection having a beveled face and an abrupt face, a feed dog and detent dog mounted on said rocker, said detent dog having a. beveled face adapted to engage a tooth of the escapement Wheel, a spacekey, a toothed Wheel advanced one tooth at a time by said spacekey, each tooth of said Wheel having an inclined face adapted to engage the beveled face of the projection, and an abrupt face adapted to ride past the abrupt face of the projection.

11. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, escapement mechanism therefor including an escapement Wheel, a rocker having a projection thereon, said projection having a beveled face, a feed dog and detent dog mounted on said rocker, said detent dog having a beveled face adapted to engage a tooth of the escapement Wheel, a space-key, a toothed Wheel operated by said space-key, the teeth of said Wheel having inclined faces adapted to engage the beveled face of said projection and to actuate said rocker therethrough, and means for preventing the overrunning of said toothed Wheel.

12. In a typevvriting machine, a carriage, escapement mechanism therefor including an escapement Wheel, a rocker having a projection thereon, said projection having a beveled face and an abrupt face, a feed dog and detent dog mounted on said rocker, said detent dog having a beveled face adapted to engage a tooth of the escapement Wheel, a space-key, a toothed Wheel advanced one tooth at a time by said spacekey, each tooth of said Wheel having an inclined face adapted to engage the beveled face of the projection, an abrupt face adapted to ride past the abrupt face of the project-ion, and a spring detent engaging said toothed wheel.

JOHN C. MGLAUGHLIN.

Vitnesses C. RIPLEY, C. NEWELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

